There were 16 of us on the bike ride, including one from the hospital.

Click here to see the photos

We started with a tour of the hospital where we saw what the money from previous bike rides had achieved and heard of the plans to upgrade the operating theatres. In contrast to much of the tensions we had experienced earlier, the staff and patients were relaxed and the mood was one of optimism.
The hospital is part of the mainstream healthcare provision in Israel and they seek to excel in what they do, both in providing medical care as well as in reconciliation between Muslims, Jews and Christians.

All too soon the first day of the bike ride was upon us and we set off - it was off-road and after a day of rain. Hence it was not long before the bikes were clogged with mud and we ground to a halt.

On the first day we progressed down from Nazareth to the Valley of Jezreel (where in earlier generations chariots had suffered the same fate as we had!), passed by Armageddon, and then climbed up the Carmel hills.

The next day we cycled on to Netanya where two of us had a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. The receptionist could not believe it – it was freezing to them!

On the way we passed through many olive groves, vineyards, orchards, muddy puddles, fields of roses, etc.
The food each day was wonderful, fresh and varied and I definitely put on weight – oh dear!
We had many a blether on the road or while waiting to get innumerable punctures fixed.
The last two days were spent on the uphill climb through the forest to Jerusalem. Although we did not travel so far on those days, about 25 miles each day, the going was tough as we tackled steep hills both up and down. I loved the downhills and as I was flying a flag on my bike they all knew when I was about to whiz by – flap, flap, flap!

On the way up we read some of the Songs of Ascents in the Book of Psalms and one of our guides recited Psalm 121 from memory in Hebrew:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does our help come from? My help comes from the Lord…”

Up and down those hills we went to Jerusalem, finally arriving weary & saddle sore but glad to have done it.

I am really grateful to everyone who contributed towards the hospital – your donations mean so much to these folk in the Galilee.

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